Chair back construction



Jan. 5, 1932. M. NUBERG CHAIR BACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 21. 1929 A TTORNEY5.

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATTHYS NUBERG, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SEATING COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CHAIR BACK CONSTRUCTION Application filed January 21, 1929. Serial No. 334,080.

tained by the sheet metal panel member; and,

to'provide a generally improved construction which will be economical to manufacture and which may be readily assembled.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a sectional view line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the improved chair back with the upholstered member retaining flange shown in dotted outline in partially disassembled position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail taken on the view in perspective showing a portion of the U-shaped retaining flange and a portion of the sheet metal back member to which it is attached.

For a long period of time it has been customary to construct the back members of theatre seats and the like out of plywood. Where the manufacturer is well experienced in the manufacture of this plywood, a very satisfactory seat back has been produced, but sometimes,v due to poor workmanship in the manufacturing thereof, these plywood back membershave, through changes in climatic conditions, developed flaws particularly by way of the outer plies of wood becoming loose and thereby causing sharp edges upon which patrons clothing will catch and cause damage thereto.

These plywood back members of faulty construction have to some extent influenced the general public into believing that all plywood will come loose and likely cause trouble by snagging and catching on peoples clothing. Theatre owners have particularly been annoyed by complaints from their patrons caused by snagging of their clothing and the like.

The trend of design at the present time is toward a back member in which the rear facing is a sheet metal panel and a suitable upbolstered member is mounted on the forward or front side in such a manner that no wood is exposed either on the front or rear side of the back member.

In the construction. shown in the drawings, a sheet metal panel member 1 of general inverted U-shape has its marginal edge 2 offset rearwardly at each side and across the top and its lower edge curled forwardly, as shown at 3, around a suitable core such as a wire at. In horizontal cross section the panel 1 is curved or bowed rearwardly as shown particularly in Fig. 1 so as to generally conform to the shape of a persons back.

A metal channel member of U-shaped cross section 5 has its rear flange secured to the offset marginal edge 2 of the panel member 1 I and extends up each side of the panel member and across the top of said flange, facing inwardly in a manner similar to the construction shown in my prior patent, No. 1,800,097, issued April 7, 1931. The lower marginal edges at each side of the panel member 1 are preferably provided with reinforcing strips 6 spot welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto and the channel or flange member 5 is secured at these points by suitable bolts or screws 7 which pass through the rear flange of the member 5 and the reinforcing strips 6. The rear flange of the channel member may be slotted to receive aVaching brackets 8 and 9 by which the back member is secured to the side frames of the seat.

An upholstered member is provided which comprises a plywood back member 10, suitable upholstery padding 11 and a fabric covering 12 which covers the padding 11 and wraps around the marginal edge of the plywood member 10 and is tacked at 13 on the back thereof. horizontal cross section the upholstered member 10 is also bowed or curved rearwardly but the normal curvature thereof is on a lesser radius than the sheet metal member T. so that the normal curvature of this member is as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1.

When assembling the upholstered member nel member 5 to be brought into the position shown in .1full. lin'es in Fig.2; 'At this-s'time" the screws orbolts 7 arepassed through-the rear flange of the channel members 5 and the reinforcing strips 6 which are-attached to the'marginal edges of the sheet-metal panel member 1. The upholstered member is then released and its tendency to bowforward toits normal position causes the front marginal flange 14 of the channel member 5 to snugly fit/against the faceofthe cloth covering 12 so that a very tighthandneat joint-is secured at the point 15.

WVhen the upholstered memberis assem bled on the sheet metal panel l and its marginal edge embraced by the channel member 5,.the lower edge of the upholstered member rests againstthe roll 3 formed alongthe lower edge of the panel member land prevents the upholstered member from working downwardly in its metal frame.

By having the marginal edge 2 of the member 1 offsetrearwardly the marginal edge of the upholstered member, where the fabric l2ris tacked thereto, is not invrcontactwith the metal, but the remainder of the plywood member has a smooth bearing surface against which to rest.

In cases where the cloth 12 becomes torn or otherwise damaged and replacement is necessary the back member as a unitis re moved from its seat standards an'dethe fourr screws 7, two at each side, are removed at which time the free ends of the panel member spring outwardly as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2.. This permits the lower edge of the upholstered member to beibrought forwardly of the retaining roll 3 and then slipped downwardly out of embraced relationship with the remainder of the channel member. 5. A new upholstered member may then be placed in the metal frame in the manner hereinbefore described.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and de-.

scribed, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be.

altered or omitted without departing from the'spirit-of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Aichair back comprising: an inwardly facing channel member having a middle upper portion and downwardly extending side portions; a pair of back members disposed side toside and having their edge portions heldin the channelof the channel A member,

the side portions of the channel member being springable relatively to each other to receive and release said edge portions; means extending through said side portions and said edge portions for fastening the same together. V V

2. A chair backcomprising: an inwardly facing channel member having a middle upper portion and downwardly extending side portions a" pair l of-back members disposed sideto. side and haVingJtheir: edge portions held in the channel of the channel member, therearward -back member having a rear wardly olfset marginal portion, and the forward baclrmembercomprising a body part and a frontnfa cing part rconsist-ingof an upholstery sheet turned back over the vedge of said body part and fastenedto itsrear side inthe offset marginal portionof said rearwardvback member. V

I 3. A chair back comprising: .a channel member having frontand rear flanges and comprising. a middle upper portion and downwardly extending; side portions; front and rear backlplates disposed side to side with their edge portions held between the fiangesofv the channehmember, the front plate being resilient andfso flexed in the assembled position of the parts that its middle portion is pressed by its resiliency rearwardly. into stopped relation .withthe rear plate and the edge portion of the front plate is pressed forwardly by saidfre'siliency into: stopped relation with the. front .fiangeof the channel'member. V

41A chair backcomprising: a channel. memb'erh'aving, front and rear flanges and comprising a middle upper portion and downwardly extending side portions; front and rear backplates curved rearwardly in horizontal planes and disposed side to side with their edge portions held between the flanges of the channel nembenone of the plates being resilient and'so flexed in the assembled position of the parts that the middle portions of'the plates are'pressed' toward each other to stopped "position by the resiliency of the resilient plate and the edge portion of the front plate is pressed forwardly by said resiliency into stoppedrelation with the front flange of, the channel member.

, v In testimony whereofl'have hereunto set my hand at Grand R-apids, ,Michigan', this 18th day of January, 1929.

' MATTHYS NUBE-RG.

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